Moving to HBS and the Greater Boston Area

Moving Truck Permit. You may need to get a permit for a moving truck if you live off campus. Certain streets are too small to drive a moving truck down them. Cambridge residents can reserve a space in front of their building for moving vans. This is highly recommended; ask your moving company if you need to do this or if they take care of it. The online permit application must be submitted 4 days prior to the move date. 617-349-4721

Moving Trucks. For getting to Boston, we rented a Penske truck. They have the best prices because they have unlimited mileage. Two of my friends have used them as well to move and have not had any complaints. If you live on campus, you can borrow a dolly from the housing office to unload your truck. And if you need some help moving things, a friend of ours recommended Boston Small Haul. The prices are pretty reasonable. You can email them at bostonsmallhaul@gmail.com or call at (617) 877-4945.

Moving Trucks On Campus. If you choose to move yourself and you live on campus, the parking attendant was really easy going about letting you park your truck right in front of SFP. If you need a dolly, you can borrow one from the moving office. But they are only open certain hours, so check when they are open and plan your move accordingly. You only need an ID to check out a dolly. When we moved in, there were not very many people moving in at the same time. I imagined trucks and trucks moving people in, but on the days we moved in, we were the only people. It could have just been that we moved in a few weeks before classes started, but it was a pretty easy move.

Toll Pass. Get a Fast Lane pass. It will save lots of frustration driving on the Mass. Pike!

Meter Street Parking. Carry quarters in your car at all times for meter parking and read the signs carefully before parking. Some street parking is reserved for residents only and you must have a resident sticker or you will get a ticket.

Recommendations for anything. Use yelp.com all the time. It’s a great resource for anything you need. People review stores, restaurants, doctors, etc.

Learning about Boston. Subscribe to Boston magazine. Lots of neat articles about the area.

Riding A Bike. One thing that I wish I had brought with me was my bike. I donated it to charity before I left California thinking that I would never ride it out here because of the weather. I would have used it so much that I am thinking about buying one. There are tons of places to lock your bike on campus, and there are even storage garages on campus to lock your bikes up during the winter months. Many streets aren't that wide for bikes, but there is the bike path along the Charles that is great.

Harvard Square Activities. Harvard Sq has a lot of fairs and events so keep an eye out for what’s going on - they are really entertaining.

Class Schedule. Three Case Days - Students meet with their learning team around 7:40am. Classes start at 8:40 and finish at 11:40; they have a lunch break until 1:10 and finish the final class at 2:30pm. Two Case Days - Students meet with their learning teams around 7:40am. Classes start at 8:40 and finish at 11:40am.

RC and EC. RC means required curriculum (1st year students), EC means elective curriculum (2nd year students).

Case Preparation. If preparing cases at home is too distracting, your student can use the library or Spangler Center. We rented a two bedroom apartment so we could have an office and desk for my student to use at home instead of taking over the living room with school stuff. When your student prepares for the next day, cases usually take about 2 hours per case to prepare.

Time Management. My student would spend every afternoon after class in the library preparing for the next day and then come home at dinnertime. Saturday was our day. Sunday he would spend a few hours in the library mid-afternoon.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). We struggled at first because my student wanted to do everything and be everywhere. It takes most of the first month or so to get into a routine that works for both of you. Don't get too worked up or too stressed out about the overwhelming amount of things going on that first month. Just know you can't do it all, so don't even try. There will be so much going on, so you've just got to pick and choose what is the most important (like going to the Partners Club events).

Working Partners. Don't worry about events you may miss during the day. Most socializing takes place at night and on the weekends. You will have plenty of opportunities to meet people.

Where to Live. Live close to campus. We lived a few miles away and always had to drive in to school. We missed out on a lot the first year. Plus most social events take place in Harvard Square. Moving closer to school for our EC year was a great decision.

Moms. Your students will be very busy. In the beginning there is an adjustment period while your student learns how to study the case method and you learn how to be a mom and an HBS partner. Build relationships with other moms; get involved in Crimson Kids, that will be your saving grace! HBS is a great place to meet people, enjoy being in a new city and all that it has to offer.

Partner ID Cards. If your student is in Analytics, you will both get your ID card during Analytics registration in August; everyone else gets their Partner ID card during registration in September. You can't use Shad Hall (the gym) unti you have an ID card.

Using the Library for Job Search. Once you register as a partner, you can use Baker Library. I wanted to use their databases to do a job search. They have good references for companies that you are interviewing at. Plus, the librarians are super helpful.

Discount at the COOP. You get a 15% discount at the HBS Coop (book store and apparel) but not at the Harvard Square Coop.

Harvard Students Spouses and Partners Association (HSSPA). Open to the spouses and partners of all Harvard students, post-docs, visiting fellows and other affiliates. Since 1896, HSSPA has provided a way for its members to make friends, find intellectual stimulation, and feel a sense of belonging within the University. Visit their website for more info.